Brody Slips to Third at Newport as CARS Tour Title Looms

Brody Monahan entered Newport Speedway with a narrow path to gain ground in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model title fight. He left with another strong finish, but not the points swing he wanted.

Monahan finished third on Friday, October 2nd, in the Monahan Motorsports Whelen Engineering #31 Pro Late Model after running near the front all night at the tricky 4/10-mile bullring. The result kept him firmly in the championship conversation, but it also made the climb steeper heading into the season finale.

The race had already presented challenges before Monahan ever belted into the car. With rain in the forecast for Saturday, the event was moved up to Friday. That pushed practice to Thursday, a day Monahan could not attend. The team had to adjust quickly, and Luke Baldwin stepped in to help crew chief Scott Anderson get the #31 prepared.

By the time Monahan arrived Friday, there was no room for a slow build. He had two short practice sessions to learn a demanding track he had never raced before, help fine-tune the car, qualify well, and keep his title hopes pointed forward.

He did nearly all of that.

Monahan Learned Newport in a Hurry

Newport Speedway is short, fast, and physical. The 4/10-mile layout features high banking and a unique racing surface, making it a track that rewards rhythm, consistency, and precision.

For a driver seeing it for the first time, the learning curve can be steep.

Monahan had only two 30-minute practice sessions to figure out the line, the grip level, the way the car reacted in various lanes, and what he would need once the race settled into a long run. That is not much time at any track, let alone one with Newport’s character.

Still, the early signs were strong.

Monahan quickly put the #31 near the top of the speed charts and found himself inside the top five during practice. That pace showed the car had speed, and it showed Monahan was able to adapt quickly despite missing Thursday’s on-track time.

Those practice runs also gave the team a clearer direction before qualifying. With championship points on the line, track position was going to matter. Starting near the front would keep Monahan away from unnecessary risk and put him in position to race the points leaders straight up.

Qualifying put the #31 on the Front Row

Qualifying was tight, and Monahan delivered when the session mattered.

He clocked in second quickest, just shy of the pole award. The effort was great, but only a few hundredths separated him and bonus points for qualifying 1st.

At that point, the race became about execution.

Newport’s layout can make passing difficult, especially when the fastest cars are evenly matched. A second-place starting spot gave Monahan the chance to stay attached to the lead and wait for the right moment rather than forcing the issue too early.

A Clean Race Kept the Leaders Locked Together

The Friday night feature ran smoothly. The only yellow came for a competition caution, which kept the race from turning into a restart-heavy battle.

Monahan spent most of the night in second, riding behind the leader and keeping the #31 in position. He did not fade, and he did not overdrive the car early. He stayed close enough to keep pressure on the top spot while saving the moment for the closing stretch.

With 40 laps to go, Monahan began his charge.

He reeled in the leader and cut the gap to less than a car length. From there, the race became a test of patience and timing. He began looking for a way to set up a pass, searching for the kind of opening that would allow him to take the lead without contact.

Monahan has built his approach around racing clean, and the closing laps reflected that. He had speed. He had pressure. What he did not have was a clear chance to complete the type of pass he wanted to make.

On a tight bullring, that can be the difference between a win and a missed opportunity.

Lap Traffic's Role in the Final Result

As the laps wound down, lap traffic became a factor.

Monahan was still in the fight for the win when slower cars began to shape the battle at the front. In the closing laps, he got held up while trying to keep pressure on the leader. That moment opened the door behind him, and Monahan was shuffled back to third.

He crossed the line there, earning another podium finish in a strong CARS Tour Pro Late Model field.

On paper, third place at a track he had never visited before is an excellent result. But the championship picture made the result feel different.

Monahan entered the night third in points, only 10 markers behind the leader. Newport offered a chance to cut into that gap before the finale. Instead, the points leader won the race, second in points finished second, and Monahan finished third.

That meant he did not gain ground. He lost some.

The Title Fight Now Goes to South Boston

After Newport, Monahan heads to the final race of the season at South Boston Speedway on October 17th with an 18-point deficit to the championship leader.

That number changes the assignment. Monahan still has a path, but he will need a strong run at South Boston and help from the finishing order around him. The top three contenders matched the points order at Newport, which kept the championship battle clean but tightened the pressure on everyone chasing the lead.

For Monahan and the #31 team, the takeaway from Newport is clear. The speed is there. The execution is close. Even on a compressed weekend at an unfamiliar track, they put themselves in position to win.

Now the focus shifts to one final night.

South Boston will decide how this title chase ends, and Monahan will enter it with the same goal he carried to Newport: put the Whelen Engineering #31 in position, race clean, and take every point available.

The CARS Tour season finale will be live on FloRacing on Saturday, October 17th at 5:30pm for the 100-lap Pro Late Model green flag.